Erlangen 2026 – scientific programme

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HK: Fachverband Physik der Hadronen und Kerne

HK 7: Nuclear Astrophysics I

HK 7.4: Talk

Monday, March 16, 2026, 17:15–17:30, PHIL A 602

Stacked target experiments for nuclear astrophysics — •Martin Müller, Benedikt Machliner, Svenja Wilden, and Andreas Zilges — University of Cologne, Institute for Nuclear Physics, Germany

The study of nucleosynthesis processes brings together cutting-edge science performed in a wide variety of fields. One of the main contributions from experimental nuclear physics is the determination of reaction cross sections and reaction rates. While many different techniques exist, the activation technique is among those that have been used the most over the decades, due to the relative simplicity with which high precision results can be obtained. However, since cross sections at energies relevant to nuclear astrophysics are tiny, long irradiation times at high intensities are required. This can be remedied by using the stacked target technique, in which multiple targets are irradiated at the same time. The energy projectiles loose while passing through each target layer enables cross section measurements at multiple energies at once. The price to pay for this is an increased energy uncertainty. In order to reduce these uncertainties, precise knowledge of target thicknesses are needed. This contribution will introduce a new setup for Rutherford Backscattering spectrometry commissioned at the University of Cologne, a Geant4 based simulation of energy losses, that is capable of propagating the uncertainties in the target thicknesses, as well as cross sections determined using the stacked target method. Studied reactions include ^170,172Yb(α, γ), ^170,172Yb(p, γ), ⁵⁵Mn(α, (2)n), and ⁵⁸Fe(p, n). Supported by the DFG (ZI 510/12-1).

Keywords: p-process; activation; instrumentation